Self-cleaning electrically ignited lighter

ABSTRACT

Accumulation of combustion products on a burner of a lighter that serves as one electrode of an electric ignition system is prevent by cleaning brushes or pads moved by actuation of the lighter mechanism that rub the surface of the burner before ignition and after extinction.

United States Patent [191 111] 3,926,545 Gujer Dec. 16, 1975SELF-CLEANING ELECTRICALLY 3,377,122 4/1968 Kiichi Mort et a1. 431/122IGNITED LIGHTER 3,490,856 l/1970 Temple 431/122 [75] Inventor: HenriGujer, Reinach, Switzerland FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS AssigneerDiplomat Birrwil, Sweden 309,490 11/1955 Switzerland 431/122 [22] Filed:Nov. 18, 1974 21] APPL N 524 495 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam R. Woodward [30] Foreign ApplicationPriority Data Nov. 30, 1973 Switzerland 16865/73 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl.2431/122; 431/255 Accumulation of combustion products on a burner Of :gt.Cl-f F23D 11/38 a lighter that Serves as one electrode f an l i ig- 0Search 431/32 nition system is prevent by cleaning brushes or pads431/255, 256 moved by actuation of the lighter mechanism that rub [56]References Cited g1rfctSilgI'1f?C6 of the burner before: ignition andafter ex- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 2,785,741 3/ 1957 Grauers 431/123 8Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 v 1 3,926,545

SELF-(ILEANTNG ELECTRlCALILY lGhlllTlED LIGHTER The present inventionrelates to an improved gasfueled electrically ignited lighter. I, r L

in such lighters the electrical ignition may be electrically powered,for example, by a battery, by a magnetic device orby a pie' zoelec'tricdevice, and in each case the burner is asa rule also one ofthe ignitionelectrodes. Now this last circumstance has a disadvantage becauseproducts of combustion are deposited and accumulate on the burnersurface which in time form an encrustation andthen interfere withreliable ignition and may even prevent ignition on repeated attempts.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a gas-firedelectrically ignited lighter in which the ignition electrode andespecially the portion of the burner that serves as an electrode ismaintained in clean condition.

SUBJECT MATTER F Tll E PRESENT lNVENTlON Briefly, burner cleaning meansoperated by the actuating mechanism of the lighter are provided. Theburner cleaning means include at least one brush or at least onecleaning pad of elastic material and these means are arranged to bemoved relative to the burner and in contact therewith with everyactuation of the lighter so as to clean the burner when it is notactually lit, thus before ignition or after extinction, or both.Preferably the movement of the cleaning means and of the actuating meansis parallel to the axis of a tubularshaped burner or the like, so thatthe motion may be transmitted to the cleaning means by the actuating 4means by the provision of a pair of parallel carrier brackets onopposite sides of the burner into which the cleaning means in the formof brushes or pads may be replaceably mounted in holding grooves havinga reentrant cross section, such as T or dovetail cross section.

in this manner it is possible to subject the burner automatically to adoubly effective cleaning process in each operation of the lighter, sothat there will always be a sufficiently clean burner for reliableignition.

in principle a cleaning means can also be so arranged as to operate onthe second ignition. electrode that is spaced a short distance away fromthe burner, but this has been found to be as a rule unnecessary, becausedeposits of products of combustion and the like that occur on thiselectrode do not impair its operation.

The invention is further illustrated by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view, partly in cross section, of agas-fueled piezoeiectrically ignited lighter, shown in its restposition;

FIG. 2 is an end view, partly broken away, of the lighter shown in FIG.ll;

H6. 3 is a schematic side view, partly in section, of the lighter ofFIG. 1 in its operated position; and

HG. 4 is an end view of the lighter in the operated position.

The piezoelectrically ignited gas-fueled lighter shown by way ofillustration in the drawings comprises in the usual way a casing 1containing a fuel container and the piezoelectric ignition device ofwhich the depressable button 2, of its actuating mechanism extends outof the casing i. Depression of the button 2 into the operated positionshown in FlG. 3 causes an opening of the fuel connection between thefuel container (not shown) and a burner 3 by means of a socalled valvelever 4 and at the same time tensions a striking hammer, not furthershown, in a-rchamber 6 and finally releases the hammer to produce asudden deformation of a piezoelectric elcment (not shown), which in turngenerates an electrical pulse that causes a spark breakdown between theburner 3, operating as one electrode, and a neighboring additionalelectrode 5, thereby igniting the gas coming out in a jet from theburner 3.

As shown particularly in FIG. 2, projecting arms 7 and 8 are provided onthe previously:mentioned actuating button 2, which are parallel andspaced from each other on opposite sides of the burner 3. On the innersides of the two projecting arms 7 and 8, directly above the free end ofthe burner in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are brushes 9 andlift. The bristles of each of these brushes preferably extend slightlyinto the opposite brush. The base members of the brushes 9 and W. areslidably mounted in T-shaped grooves on the inner side of thearms 7 and8 so as to be replaceable.

Of course other kinds of connections between the brushes 9 and 10 andthe arms 7 and 8 may be used. Thus the bases of the brushes can heslipped into grooves of dovetail profile or, if replaceability of thebrushes is not imperative, the brushes can be simply affixed to theinner side of the arms 7 and g with an adhesive. Furthermore, otherkinds of cleaning means, such as cleaning or scouring pads of elasticmaterial, such as synthetic resin foam or the like, may be used.

Actuation of the button 2 downwardly to ignite the lighter now alsoproduces a downward motion of the brushes 9 and it), by which the burner3 is brushed clean from the top down on all sides. Of course themovement is so arranged that the brushes 9 and 10 at least approximatelyreach their lower end position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 before ignitiontakes place, in order to avoid singeing the brushes.

Upon release of the button 2 there is produced, as usual, an automaticrestoration of the button 2 into its rest position, illustrated in FIGS.1 and 2, which turns off the fuel supply to the burner and thusextinguishes the flame. As is evident from the drawings, during thisreturn movement the brushes 9 and W again in their movement past theburner 3 brush it off, so that any deposit of products of combustion onthe burner are immediately removed.

From the above description it is clear that maintenance of the burner 3in a clean condition is accomplished in this manner with a relativelysimple and eco nomical construction, and, furthermore, that theparticular form of the cleaning arrangement is obviously not limited tothe particular shape and disposition illustrated. Such a cleaning devicecan be provided for practically any form of lighter, quite independentlyof whether the lighter actuating mechanism has a push button, a slider,a flip-cover or the like as its external operating member. in any ofthese cases there is no difficulty to provide corresponding arms orlevers which will move the brushes or the like relative to the burner inbrushing contact, either in parallel to the burner axis or else in someother direction, which may also be transversely across the burner. As afurther example, the cleaning means may also take the form of a rolleror the like and perform the cleaning operation by its rotation. it willthus be seen that although the invention has been specifically describedwith reference to a particular illustrative embodiments, variations arepossible 3 within theinventive concept.

I claim:

l. Lighter comprising: a controllable ga's jet burner (3) and electricignition means (5, 6) therefor;

manually operable actuating means (2, 4) for causing fuel gas to bereleased to said gas jet burner and for producing an electric spark insaid ignition means to ignite said fuel gas at said burner; cleaningmeans (9, l) movable relative to said burner for cleaning the burnersurfaces thereof, and means (7, 8) linking said actuating means and saidcleaning means for operating said cleaning means.

2. Lighter as defined in claim 1, in which said cleaning means comprisesat least one brush.

3. Lighter as defined in claim 1, in which said cleaning means comprisesat least one cleaning pan of elastic material.

4. Lighter as defined in claim I, in which said cleaning means, linkingmeans and actuating means are so arranged as to produce relativemovement of said cleaning means past said burner surfaces in contacttherewith prior to ignition of said fuel gas upon actuation of saidactuating means.

therewith following the extinctionof a flame at said 1 burner upon therelease of said actuating means.

6. Lighter as defined in claim 5, in which said cleaning means aremovable in a direction at least approximately parallel to an axis ofsymmetry of said burner.

7. Lighter as defined in claim 5, in which said actuating meanscomprises a depressable member movable in a direction at leastapproximately parallel to the axis of symmetry of said burner and inwhich said linking means includes two spaced parallel carrier meansprojecting from said depressable member, said cleaning means consistingof two members, one mounted on each of said carrier means.

8. Lighter as defined in claim 7, in which said members of said cleaningmeans are replaceably mounted in grooves of reentrant cross sectionprovided in said carrier means.

1. Lighter comprising: a controllable gas jet burner (3) and electric ignition means (5, 6) therefor; manually operable actuating means (2, 4) for causing fuel gas to be released to said gas jet burner and for producing an electric spark in said ignition means to ignite said fuel gas at said burner; cleaning means (9, 10) movable relAtive to said burner for cleaning the burner surfaces thereof, and means (7, 8) linking said actuating means and said cleaning means for operating said cleaning means.
 2. Lighter as defined in claim 1, in which said cleaning means comprises at least one brush.
 3. Lighter as defined in claim 1, in which said cleaning means comprises at least one cleaning pan of elastic material.
 4. Lighter as defined in claim 1, in which said cleaning means, linking means and actuating means are so arranged as to produce relative movement of said cleaning means past said burner surfaces in contact therewith prior to ignition of said fuel gas upon actuation of said actuating means.
 5. Lighter as defined in claim 4, in which said cleaning means, linking means and actuating means are so arranged as to produce relative movement of said cleaning means past said burner surfaces in contact therewith following the extinction of a flame at said burner upon the release of said actuating means.
 6. Lighter as defined in claim 5, in which said cleaning means are movable in a direction at least approximately parallel to an axis of symmetry of said burner.
 7. Lighter as defined in claim 5, in which said actuating means comprises a depressable member movable in a direction at least approximately parallel to the axis of symmetry of said burner and in which said linking means includes two spaced parallel carrier means projecting from said depressable member, said cleaning means consisting of two members, one mounted on each of said carrier means.
 8. Lighter as defined in claim 7, in which said members of said cleaning means are replaceably mounted in grooves of reentrant cross section provided in said carrier means. 